Canadian romance novelist Carley Fortune has revealed the upcoming release of her sixth book, “Only in Summer,” scheduled for May 18, 2027. This novel revisits the familiar setting of Barry’s Bay, Ont., where Fortune’s earlier works, “Every Summer After” and “One Golden Summer,” were also based. Fortune shared in a newsletter that the inspiration for this book came from her recent purchase of a cottage near Barry’s Bay, fulfilling a long-held dream since her family’s lakefront property was sold.
The protagonist of “Only in Summer,” Eleanor Florek, known as Ellie, echoes Fortune’s dream of owning property in Barry’s Bay. Ellie, the cousin of Charlie and Sam from Fortune’s previous Barry’s Bay stories, returns to her childhood town with the intention of buying her own place. However, her plans are disrupted when a neighboring house is demolished to make way for a lavish mansion by its new owner.
While details beyond this premise remain undisclosed, readers can anticipate a blossoming romance against the scenic backdrop of a lakeside setting. Fortune, a Toronto-based writer and former editor for various publications, including Refinery29 and The Globe and Mail, has a repertoire of successful novels like “Our Perfect Storm,” “One Golden Summer,” “Every Summer After,” “This Summer Will Be Different,” and “Meet Me at the Lake.”
“Meet Me at the Lake” was a notable contender on Canada Reads in 2024, championed by fashion influencer Mirian Njoh, marking the first romance novel featured on the program. Additionally, “Every Summer After” was adapted into the Amazon Prime Video series “Every Year After,” which was recently renewed, with plans for Netflix Canada to transform “This Summer Will Be Different” into a 10-episode series.